Well tubing guide and straightener apparatus

ABSTRACT

A well tubing guide and straightener apparatus for positioning between a reel and a tubing injector for feeding tubing from the reel to the injector, and vice versa, with a change in direction thereof and with a limited amount of permanent deformation of the tubing.

United States Patent Slator et al.

151 3,690,136 [4 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] WELL TUBING GUIDE ANDSTRAIGHTENER APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Damon T. Slator; Archie R.Wilson,

both of Houston, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Bowen Tools, Inc.

[22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 84,438

[52] US. Cl. ..72/l60, 72/183, 166/77 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2ld 7/08 [58]Field of Search...226/189; 166/77, 133; 72/160,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,116,781 l/1964 Rugeley eta1. ..166/77 3,328,988 7/1967 Schmidt ..72/128 3,441,189 4/1969 Erb etal. ..226/189 3,282,304 1 H1966 Coleman ..226/1 89 3,401,749 9/1968Daniel ..166/77 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 47,603 8/1966 Germany166/77 Primary Examinerbowell A. Larson Attorney-Pravel, Wilson 8LMatthews ABSTRACT A well tubing guide and straightener apparatus forpositioning between a reel and a tubing injector for feeding tubing fromthe reel to the injector, and vice versa, with a change in directionthereof and with a limited amount of permanent deformation of the tubmg.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP I2 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORJ'Home! when & MaMewA flTTORNE YS PATENTED E I973 3.690.136

SHEET 2 UF 2 paw/J WiIAow (9 MaHLewA ATTORNE YS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION- The field of this invention is apparatus for guiding welltubing to and from a well. 7

Inthe 'past, it has been thought desirable to guide tubing made of steelor other materials of similarly limited flexibility in a large loop orare from a reel to a tubing injector, as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No.3,3l3,346. Such arrangement minimizes permanent deformation of thetubing due to the large arc of the tubing, but it suffers from thedisadvantage that'the large expanse of exposed pipe in the are or loopbetween the reel and the injector is subject to shifting,

breaking and other damage, especially in high winds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new andimproved well tubing guide and tubing straightener apparatus mountedabove the upper end of a tubing injector unit so that tubingmade ofsteel or other materials of similarly limited flexibility may. be fed ina substantially straight line from the reel to the inject or unit andthen in a curved path with a relatively sharp radius while supported,and with a limited amount of permanent deformation of the tubing, beingso that the deformation, if any, does not prevent normal usage of thepipe, or result in deterioration due to cold working.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED IEMBODIMENT In the drawing, the letter R designates generally onesuitable type of reel unit or assembly which is adapted to wind andunwind well tubing T with respect thereto, wherein the tubing T is madeof steel or other material of similarly limited flexibility. Aninjecting apparatus I of known construction, examples of which are shownin US. Pat. Nos. 3,182,877; 3,285,485; and 3,330,531; is positioned overa well having casing C for the injection and withdrawal of the tubing Twith respect thereto. The injector apparatus I is preferably located onthe ground G or other suitable platform or base in the known manner. Theapparatus A of this invention is positioned between the reel unit R andthe injector apparatus I so as to guide the tubing T in a curved path asit is fed between the reel R and the injector means I, so that thetubing T is changed in its feeding direction with only a limited amountof permanent distortion of the tubing T, such that the deformation, ifany, does not prevent normal usage of the pipe, or result indeterioration due to cold working.

The details of the constructionof the reel unit R are disclosed inco-pending U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 36,780 filed May 13, 1970 nowUS Pat. No. 3,614,019. Briefly, the reel unit R includes a drum 10 uponwhich the tubing T is wound or wrapped. The drum 10 is driven by anysuitable power source such as a motor (not shown) connected to a pulley12 which drives a belt or chain 14 in driving engagement with anotherpulley or sprocket secured to the drum 10.

A level wind mechanism M of any suitable construction is mounted withthe reel drum 10 and is adjustable to different positions such as thesolid line position of FIG. 1 and the dotted line position of FIG. l'soas to preferably maintain the tubing T in a straight line from the drum10 to the apparatus A, as will be more evident hereinafter. Adjustabletelescoping supports 20 of any suitable construction are provided on askid or base 21 for the entire unit R so that by adjusting the support20 the level wind mechanism M may be disposed at the desired elevationwith respect to the drum 10. The skid 21 is preferably mounted on atruck or other bed 22 having wheels 23 therewith so that the unit isportable.

Considering the invention in more detail, and particularly the apparatusA illustrated in the drawings, such apparatus A includes a well tubingguide G (FIG. 2) and a tubing straightener S. The guide G includes aframe having a base member 30 which is preferably hollow and rectangularin cross-section (FIG. 2A). Such base member 30 is curved at arelatively sharp radius so as to feed tubing T of steel or othersimilarly limited flexibility material in a curved path, which may be abend of ninety degrees or more. The frame member 30 extends in an arcwhich preferably is greater than ninety degrees and less than 180degrees. Normally, the frame member 30 extends in an arc of about 135degrees (FIG. 2). A pair of roller supports 31, which are preferablyconventional angle iron members, are curved to the same curvature asthe-frame member 30 and are welded or are otherwise affixed to suchframe member 30.

Each of the roller supports 31 has a lower leg 31a which is in contactwith the upper surface of the frame member 30(FIG. 2A) and which iswelded or otherwise affixed thereto. The other leg 31b extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the leg 31a and to the upper surface ofthe frame member 30, and it has an opening 31c therethrough forreceiving a roller shaft 35, as will be more fully explained. It is tobe noted that the outer extremities of the legs 31a extend beyond thesides of the frame member 30 (FIGS. 2A and 3) so that both of thesupport members 31 and the frame member 30 may be welded or otherwisesecured to a suitable frame support 50 forming the upper end of theinjector means I.

The lower ends 31d of the support members 31 are preferably welded orotherwise secured to the frame support 50. The frame member 30 and thesupport members 31 extend upwardly in an are from the base or support 50so that the highest point of the apparatus A is at approximately fromsuch lower ends 31d, and then they may extend downwardly therefrom forapproximately 45.

The roller supports 31 are laterally spaced from each other, and theyprovide for the support of longitudinally spaced rollers 60 which aremounted on the shafts 35. Each roller 60 is preferably formed with adouble taper so as to have a central portion 60a of smaller diameterthan the outer portions thereof to facilitate a centering of the tubingT as it is guided by the rollers 60 in the curved path defined by therollers 60. The rollers 60 may be of any suitable construction, but asillustrated in particular in FIG. 2A, each roller 60 preferably hassuitable bearings 60b mounted on the shaft 35. The shaft 35 has asuitable grease channel 35a which extends outwardly to a grease fitting35b. Thus, grease may be supplied regularly to the bearings 60b toassure the proper rotation of the rollers 60 on the shafts 35. Theshafts 35 are themselves secured to the supports 31 by means of a shafthead 35c, and a suitable nut 35d with a conventional washer 352.

Although the tubing T is normally held under sufficient tension toconstantly maintain it in contact with all of rollers 60 as it is beingguided by the apparatus A, it is desirable to have confining brackets 65longitudinally spaced with respect to each other and connected to theroller supports 31 so as to prevent the tubing T from becoming displacedfrom the apparatus A. Each of such brackets 65 is releasably connectedto the support member 31 by a releasable bolt or other suitableattaching means 66, as will be well understood.

For additional strength, the apparatus A may include a brace 67 which isconnected to the frame member 30 by any suitable means such as a boltand nut 68 near the outer extremity of the base member 30 so as to leavethe outer extremity or end of the guide means G unobstructed. Thus, asthe tubing T is fed to and from the apparatus A, the unobstructed outerend of the apparatus prevents any interference with the movement of thetubing T. The lower end of the brace 67 extends downwardly to anysuitable point on the injector unit or apparatus I such as the base orsupport 50 where it is bolted or is otherwise suitably connected (FIG.1). Other braces 70 may also be utilized for further supporting theguide means G on the base or support 50.

The tubing straightener S is of conventional construction and itincludes a pair of rollers 71 which are rotatably mounted on one side ofthe tubing T and are longitudinally spaced from each other. A thirdroller 72 is mounted on the opposite side of the tubing T from therollers 71 and it is adjustably movable relative to the rollers 71 so asto exert a bending force on the tubing T between the two rollers 71. Theroller 72 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly relative to the rollers71 by any suitable means, such as a threaded shaft 73 which works in anut 73a and which preferably has a handle 73b therewith. The roller 72is urged towards the spaced rollers 71 so as to apply a slight bendingforce to the tubing T to counteract any curvature or bend which mightotherwise remain in the tubing T after it leaves the rollers 60. It isto be noted that the bend or bending force applied to the tubing T inthe straightener S is in a direction which is the reverse of any bend orcurvature placed in the tubing T as it moves through the guide apparatusG.

In the use of the apparatus A, the tubing T is initially positioned overthe rollers 60 and is confined by the brackets 65 for the feeding of thetubing T from the reel R to the injector unit I. Even though the tubingis made of steel or other material of similarly limited flexibility,such tubing T may be guided in a straight line and then curved at anangle of over 90, with a limited amount of permanent deformation of suchtubing T, so that the deformation, if any, does not prevent normal usageof the pipe, or result in deterioration due to cold working. Anyresidual bend or curvature in the tubing T after it has passed over therollers 60 may be removed by the straightener S. Since the outer end ofthe guide G is unobstructed, the tubing T may be fed to the guide G fromthe reel R at different angles. Since the tubing T is supported forsubstantially the full extent of its curvature by the guide G, there isno danger ofa sharp bend or fold being formed in the tubing T as itsdirection of movement is changed.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventlon.

We claim:

1. A well tube guide and straightner apparatus comprising:

an arcuate guide frame formed in an arc with a predetermined radius;

said guide frame having a lower end supported at a substantiallyhorizontal position and curving upwardly for a portion of said are tosubstantially the highest point of said frame and with the remainder ofthe frame curving downwardly for approximately 45 and terminating in theupper end of said guide frame;

roller means mounted on said frame for receiving and guiding a tubingwhich has been curved thereover; and

a tubing straightener mounted at the lower end of said frame forapplying a small bending force to the tubing in a reverse direction tothe curve in said roller means to thereby counteract any tendency of thetubing to remain curved as it is fed from said roller means.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide frameincludes:

a curved hollow base member extending for substantially the full arc ofcurvature of said guide frame; and

a pair of laterally spaced roller supports secured to said base memberand having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said basemember.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said roller meansincludes:

a plurality of rollers mounted on said roller supports at longitudinallyspaced points along the curved path formed by said supports.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein:

each of said roller supports is an angle iron member, with one legthereof secured to said base member and with the other leg extendingupwardly substantially perpendicular thereto.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

brace means connected to said frame near its upper end but inwardlytherefrom for providing an unobstructed upper end of said frame thereofwhile still supporting said frame.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said straightenerincludes:

6 a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to be v said pair ofrollers; and

disposed on one side of the tubing and in contact means for adjusting.said third roller towards and therewith; away from said pairof rollersfor applying a cona third roller disposed on the opposite side of saidtrolled bending force on the tp g P g pair of rollers in contact withthe other side of said 5 between Sald thlrd '9"" and 531d P ofouerstubing and in alignment with the space between

1. A well tube guide and straightner apparatus comprising: an arcuateguide frame formed in an arc with a predetermined radius; said guideframe having a lower end supported at a substantially horizontalposition and curving upwardly for a 90* portion of said arc tosubstantially the highest point of said frame and with the remainder ofthe frame curving downwardly for approximately 45* and terminating inthe upper end of said guide frame; roller means mounted on said framefor receiving and guiding a tubing which has been curved thereover; anda tubing straightener mounted at the lower end of said frame forapplying a small bending force to the tubing in a reverse direction tothe curve in said roller means to thereby counteract any tendency of thetubing to remain curved as it is fed from said roller means.
 2. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide frame includes: acurved hollow base member extending for substantially the full arc ofcurvature of said guide frame; and a pair of laterally spaced rollersupports secured to said base member and having a curvaturecorresponding to the curvature of said base member.
 3. The structure setforth in claim 2, wherein said roller means includes: a plurality ofrollers mounted on said roller supports at longitudinally spaced pointsalong the curved path formed by said supports.
 4. The structure setforth in claim 2, wherein: each of said roller supports is an angle ironmember, with one leg thereof secured to said base member and with theother leg extending upwardly substantially perpendicular thereto.
 5. Thestructure set forth in claim 1, including: brace means connected to saidframe near its upper end but inwardly therefrom for providing anunobstructed upper end of said frame thereof while still supporting saidframe.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said straightenerincludes: a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to be disposedon one side of the tubing and in contact therewith; a third rollerdisposed on the opposite side of said pair of rollers in contact withthe other side of said tubing and in alignment with the space betweensaid pair of rollers; and means for adjusting said third roller towardsand away from said pair of rollers for applying a controlled bendingforce on the tubing passing between said third roller and said pair ofrollers.